In Parts I, II ,III and IV I talked about an eco-community about to bloom not far from Asheville, N.C. I shared
how excited we are at the prospect of representing the eco-developers. Today, these eco-innovators, who are dotting their "i's" and crossing their "t's", provided the Forestry Report to our Firm for examination, and for our files.
I don't know how many of you are familiar with a Forestry Report, but if you get a chance to read one, don't miss the opportunity!
Here (and in posts to follow) is my "riff" on the Forestry Report. My riff plays into a few especially interesting ideas that have popped up, and might be of value to our clients, as I read the Report. For me, having the opportunity to interact with clients involved in stewardship, green-built homes, and nature connections is quite a thrill. Could be for you, too?
photo ...Forest View at Asheville Area Eco-Community
"RIFF" on FORESTRY REPORT. . . SOILS
NOW..I'm thinking about a client of ours, a young man who longs to selectively cut and mill the wood for his home. Since the Forestry Report states that the soil is "well suited for timber production"...
I am wondering:
We will be meeting with the eco-developers today, and will let you know what they say...so stay tuned!...
in the meantime, what do you think about the possibilities for our clients?
PROUD TO SAY WE JUST LISTED THIS! Details here.
Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place Subscribe to Greenolina's "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep those creative wheels a turnin'
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Wild Turkeys Couldn't Keep Me Away from Beaver Lake and the Sanctuary. We walk around Beaver Lake almost every week, visit our neighbors. We continue to be amazed with the light-flashing waters. The surrounding mountains border the Beaver Lake as if to entice a canvas from some modern-day French Impressionist . The acres of open space where kids play, the families finding picnic spots, and just beyond, the canoes awaiting turns to glide by all participate in this colorful scene. A sense of "all's right" in the world seems to be in the air.
If you are a birder, you will love the Beaver Lake Sanctuary where you can spot LOONS, GREBES, CORMORANTS, HERONS, SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. HUMMINGBIRDS and WOODPECKERS...just to name a few. There's one species that you might not find there...
(hint-hint...see photo I took on the way home last night)...
...it's the wild turkey....but I can tell you, for sure, that wild turkeys do live and prosper nearby.
Here's a checklist my birding friends take with them when they walk the boardwalk into the Beaver Lake Sanctuary. Being a fancier of nature, I'm a big fan of this place. The sanctuary was established in the mid-1980s, when the Audubon Society successfully led an effort to prevent construction of a strip mall on the site.
The Lakeview Park neighborhood is right up the hill from Beaver Lake and the Sanctuary. . This is a "sustainable" neighborhood in which people who live there absolutely delight.
I actually have known eco-friendly re-modelers to completely reconstruct a home to make it green to the bones, just to live in this neighborhood.
Where an awareness and appreciation of nature, wildlife and natural ecosystems, and responsible environmental stewardship come together, that's Asheville's green real estate scene...and wild turkeys couldn't keep me away from all the eco-innovation that's happening here!
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"To live sustainably in this beautiful, peaceful, healthy, sacred place in the magnificent North Carolina mountains is to prosper" .
By "prosper" , according to the Free Dictionary, I mean:
1. To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive: The crops flourished in the rich soil...
2. To do or fare well...
3. To be in a period of highest productivity, excellence, or influence...
And here in the mountains not far from our beloved Asheville, NC, you'll find a conservation neighborhood connected in a special way with the natural world where you can do just that.
It is a sustainable community where neighbors can prosper in a community designed to respect the environment by protecting the land, using renewable energies for heat and light, building green homes, and supporting healthy lifestyles... . To "prosper" here means to be
Soon our Brokerage will have the honor of introducing parcels in this conservation neighborhood where even the homes will "thrive" on renewable energy- and where the renewable energy vision in the built environment includes:
Stay tuned...this is Part 4 of a story to be told over the next few months . . .You can catch up on the earlier posts here : Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 and let me know what you think.
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I'm sort of a "common sense" kind of person.. I like waterfalls,
(photo taken at eco-community near Asheville) the first snow fall, sitting around the fire with my friends, and delicious organically-grown tomatoes...IOW... balance in my life.
Possibly, as a young schoolteacher in Michigan, way back when, I acquired common sense from my fourth-graders.
Today, at our eco-savvy real estate brokerage in the "City of Bliss", Asheville, NC , "common sense" is about making a positive difference in our neighborhood and in the world in terms of land use and planning , healthy living environments, and camaraderie....
summed up as eco-community on many levels- the seemingly small efforts you and I make toward sustainable practices and eco-innovation-whether that be installing an energy efficient lighting system at home or in the office, walking more, eating from a garden we planted in the spring- those small efforts that open up possibilities for all of us.
What is an Eco-Community? Lately I've been wondering about defining "common sense" in terms of "eco-community." In a conversation with our Asheville neighbors John Myers and Jane Lawson who are eco-innovators spear-heading creating such an eco-community , I asked, " What exactly is an eco-community...could you tell me more about all the aspects of land conservation, renewable energy, green homes, healthy living, etc that are involved?"
" Well," they responded, " It is a sustainable community where we choose to consciously live in harmony and balance with the natural world. It is a community designed to respect the environment by:
and our eco-community just half an hour from Asheville offers convenient access to healthcare, education, entertainment and transportation." I asked how they went about this creating this. "Well, janeAnne, that's quite a story. It has been a family affair from the beginning, " Jane answered.
"You know, John has been a long time activist in land conservation for the past 18 years, working with various land trusts and non-profits. He's worked to protect over 20,000 acres of parks, trails and public forestlands, " she smiled.
John chimed in, "The intention in my work has always been to preserve special lands for future generations to enjoy. In designing an eco-community, our primary goal has been to preserve as much land as possible in its beautiful, natural condition."
Now I began thinking - if a group of nature-lovers who also appreciate the cultural perks of living within half and hour of Asheville got together-that would make Big Common Sense. So I asked the couple...
How many home sites would they offer?
"Only a small number , and they'll be surrounded by many acres of abundant forests, rushing mountain streams and rugged cliffs," they replied.
Stay tuned...this is Part 3 of a story to be told over the next few months . . .Part 1 Part 2 and let me know what you think.
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Maybe it was the ready-to-plant south-facing (organic?) garden within a hop-skip-and-jump of that Green Builder's door that
did it!
When I visited this remarkable home, (see photos to left and right) suddenly, for the second time this week, Grandma's sage advice came to mind:
Scenario: Board members of NLJ's site visit to evaluate a new "green-built" construction here in Asheville, NC. So, in this case, "get your greens" refers to a whole "green-built' package (not just the veggies, though the plot laid out for an organic vegetable garden in the photo above makes me want to dig right in! )
The Whole "GREEN-BUILT" Package: Not only is the home sited to maximize the wild-forever feeling in an urban environment (it backs up to acres and acres of undisturbed land where wildlife enjoys sanctuary, but is within walking distance of the bakery in West Asheville) but this new Green-Built construction offers solar panels, and numerous energy efficient factors and uses healthy, non-toxic materials.

Personally, I am enamored with the soft-glow finish on the recycled heart pine floors.
(see photo to left)
Throughout this Green Builder's home, we saw the consistent practice of using materials gleaned and carefully restored ...Recyclable is a theme here. We're talking sustainable!
One "stand-out" for me is the use of passive solar features. 
Here's an example--this load- bearing wall warmed by the sun and sharing that warmth in the most attractive way.
So I am excited about the possibilities and the positive impact happening in terms of green building(and remodeling) here in Asheville and across the country.
Someone mentioned the other day that most folks think that green-built structures remind them of a dentist's office...ugly and painful...so here's a challenge for you, readers...
Possibly find a green-built home in your neighborhood. Take a look and judge for yourself. Tell me if that "green-built" is not only GREEN...sustainable ....and worthy of your consideration....but, like this home, is absolutely charming to see ......and let me know what you think.
Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place Subscribe to Greenolina's "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep those creative wheels a turnin'
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